Co-Director

 Nicola (Nikki) Edge, PhD is the vice chair for research in Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where she serves as the Cathy Cole Seilhan and Denton Seilhan Endowed Chair for Child and Family Resilience.  Her areas of research include children and families impacted by maternal substance use, depression and traumatic events such as abuse or neglect and she has published widely in these areas.   She also focuses on developing and studying interventions in primary care, early care and education and school settings designed to support positive mental health and increase trauma-informed practices. She directs an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation program in Arkansas, called Project PLAY, and is the director of the Arkansas Trauma Resource Initiative for Schools.

Clinical Director

Sufna John, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and Associate Professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She specializes in infant and early childhood mental health and intergenerational trauma. She serves as Co-Director of the Arkansas Building Effective Services for Trauma program, Co-Director of the UAMS Complex Trauma Assessment Program, and Clinical Director of the Arkansas Trauma Resource Initiative for Schools.

Clinical Program Manager

Emily Robbins received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Professionally, she has worked within medical hospitals and outpatient mental health environments focused on providing supports to youth and families during and after difficult events. She is trained in multiple evidence-based treatments for youth who have experienced trauma. Emily is an avid runner, and her favorite activity is participating in runDisney events on both coasts!

Program Manager

Gayle Pipkin is the Program Manager for Arkansas Building Effective Services for Treatment (ARBEST) and Trauma Resource Initiative for Schools (TRIS) and has been part of the team since 2012. She oversees the administrative functions for the program, including travel, procurement and training coordination. Outside of work, she enjoys camping, crafting, and spending time with family and friends.

Clinical Team

Elissa Wilburn, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). She specializes in trauma-informed, evidence-based assessment and treatment for children and adolescents. Dr. Wilburn is certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT; therapist and Within-Agency Trainer) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), with additional training in Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) and DBT for both adolescents and children. She co-leads the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program for teens and families at the UAMS Child Study Center and is trained in the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS). She also serves as an in-house trainer for CE-CERT, supporting provider wellness and sustainability. Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Wilburn partners with early childhood programs and schools statewide to promote trauma-informed systems change and provide post-crisis consultation. Dr. Wilburn enjoys painting, crochet, design, baking, and trying out new coffee and smoothie recipes!

Clinical Team

Allison Smith, Ph.D., is a Licensed Child Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). She provides outpatient mental health treatment and psychological testing at the UAMS Child Study Center and specializes in early childhood trauma treatment. Allison is a nationally certified therapist in multiple evidence-based treatments for trauma (TF-CBT, CPP, PCIT) and is a trainer in Components for Enhancing Career Experience and Reducing Trauma (CE-CERT). She is passionate about supporting folks who work closely with families who have been through trauma (e.g., school, child welfare, victims’ services professionals). Allison is one of those annoying dog moms to two cute pups and loves musical theater, rainbows, and all desserts.  

Clinical Team

Jennifer Harman, PhD, IMH-E® is an Associate Professor in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. She is a pediatric psychologist and infant and early childhood mental health and development expert. Dr. Harman’s overarching research and program development interest focuses on efforts to support the social and emotional functioning, neurodevelopment, and overall wellness of children across settings and in partnership with the adults who care for them. She serves as a reflective supervisor and clinical expert for Project PLAY and a crisis consultant for the TRIS team.  Dr. Harman’s overarching career objective is to innovate, facilitate, and/or support systems, programs, and relationships that help children feel safe and secure and enable them to learn, grow, and develop well.

Trauma Trainer

Research Writer/Communication Specialist

Laura is a Research Writer and Communications Specialist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where she supports several statewide mental health initiatives, including the Trauma Resource Initiative for Schools (TRIS), the Arkansas Building Effective Services for Trauma (ARBEST) program, and AR ConnectNow. She develops educational materials, reports, toolkits, website content, and other communication resources that help make research and mental health information accessible to educators, professionals, caregivers, and communities across Arkansas. Outside of work, Laura enjoys crafting, spending time with friends and family, and supporting the local community theatre scene.

Special Events Coordinator

Riley Thomas completed her undergraduate studies at Saint Louis University, earning a degree in Education.  For nearly ten years, she taught Kindergarten through eighth grade, with a main focus on Science.  She started out at UAMS in the Office of Continuing Education in 2018 and transitioned to ARBEST/TRIS in 2020.  Since then, she has been working behind the scenes for TRIS coordinating trainings and participating in outreach.  When she isn't working, Riley enjoys walking her dogs, yoga, and running.

Administrative Coordinator

Shaqwunna has more than 10 years of experience supporting programs, teams, and projects. She currently serves as Administrative Coordinator for the ARBEST/TRIS teams, where she oversees logistics, travel, and purchasing. With a strong background in office management, event coordination, and organizational support, she is skilled at maintaining smooth operations. Outside of work, Shaqwunna enjoys crafting Christmas projects and watching Christmas movies on repeat.